The A.M.P.A.S. Production Art Database

The Nightmare Before Christmas, Henry Sellick, A.M.P.A.S.

Recently the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (or A.M.P.A.S. ...or "the Oscars people") opened their digital doors and now allow anyone with an internet connection to browse their collection of motion picture Production Art.

Halloween Horror Nights Short Film Competition

Do you like Universal Studios' annual Halloween Horror Nights mazes of mayhem?
Are you a budding filmmaker?
Think you can scare the pants of the judges in 3 minutes or less?
Well I've got the contest for you.

Twilight Zone The Movie and the Spielberg/Matheson Halloween Story That Never Was

June 24, 1983.

28 years ago today, the film Twilight Zone The Movie was released in theaters.

Can you believe that this film ALMOST had a Steven Spielberg-directed, Richard Matheson-written installment that was centered around HALLOWEEN?

I can't.  But it's true.

Strange Kids Club 1st Annual Halloween Costume Contest!

The always quirky but never boring fantasma-magical website Strange Kids Club is having their first Annual Homemade Halloween Costume Contest!

Check out all the details HERE but here's the rundown:
- Costumes are limited only by your imagination.
-  Final submission MUST be homemade.  No out-of-the-bag costumes presented as-is.
-  Costume must be recent.
- Deadline is August 21, 2011.
-  Prizes are:  $125 in Halloween-related merchandise, Strange Kids Club t-shirt and a copy of the SKC Halloween Comix Anthology. 

Not a bad take for something you're going to do anyway (i.e. "build the ultimate Halloween costume").  
 And please peruse the Strange Kids Club website beyond the contest post. 
It's full of news, reviews and interviews (that's a lot of "ews") about DVDs, Comics, TV, Toys, Video Games and more. 

Halloween Candy Bartering and the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup

Wired Magazine's Geek Dad (Dave Giancaspro) posted a piece on November 1st of last year in which he described the November 1st candy trade that takes place between his sons.  It's a quick read.  Go ahead and check it out HERE.

Though the story is a cute, warm-fuzzy read, and a funny poke at "kid-math" I believe the Geek Dad missed the overall point.

T-Shirt Tuesday: Orange Michael Myers "Splatter Mask" Shirt

As a fan of Halloween and Halloween, I'm always on the lookout for a special blending of the two.  Simple movie imagery slapped on a black shirt isn't enough for me.

So when I found THIS Halloween t-shirt featuring the visage of Michael Myers enlarged in black ink and splattered across the front of this bright orange t-shirt, I've got to trumpet it. 
It's to the point and looks scary.
Boogie Man. 
Orange.
"'Nuff said," as Stan Lee would say.  

If you only wore Halloween t-shirts 365 days a year, I would advise THIS shirt should be your Halloween Halloween shirt.
Only $24.98 and available from Impact Merchandising HERE.
I think I fried my brain typing Halloween twice and figuring out which one to italicize...

Recipe: Oreo Bat Cookies

Normally I wouldn't mention bat-shaped cookies as they're sort of a Halloween staple.

Let's put it this way: if Halloween were a movie (-cough-), bat-shaped cookies would be the "Extras" in the background.

But make those bat-shaped cookies into black OREO-flavored cookies with creme in the middle and now you've elevated those "Extras" to top billing.

The Tom Cruise of bat-shaped Halloween cookies.

Head over HERE to TheKitchn.com to get the recipe from Bouchon Bakery.

Don't have a bat cookie cutter?

No problem. Within the link there's ANOTHER link to a Martha Stewart Downloadable template.

Unfortunately you can't download the recipe ingredients right to your fridge.

Someday.

Earl Grey, HOT!

-BAMF!-

Happy Father's Day - Time for another Trick 'r Treat FearNet Video!

Happy Father's Day to all those deserving of the greeting! 


The fine folks at FearNet are reminding us once again that Trick 'r Treat will be running 24 hours straight in just 4 short months.  

HERE's an all new twisted video featuring Sam from TrT and directed by Zach Shields (from the band Dead Man's Bones).

Between this video and the Easter one from a few months back, FearNet's embrace of Trick 'r Treat is really something special.  Here's to hoping we get a video throughout the year every holiday until Halloween. 
Yes including Ground Hog Day.
It'll give Bill Murray something to do.

Dirty Donny Halloween Watch

Let's say you're in the market for a watch.
But you're a Halloween Addict, a fan of Rat Fink and Swatches.

As your concierge, might I suggest the Dirty Donny Halloween Exclusive watch from Vannen?

The face contains a monster in a very Rat Fink-inspired style.
The black band is covered in purple bats.
The loop has a neon green "Dirty Donny" logo on it.

And the packaging you receive the watch in, comes in a bright orange bag complete with a black cat and the words "Trick or Treat" on the front of it.

Shall I bag it up for you, sir/ma'am?  (I'm continuing this "watch concierge" bit...)

Like most "Halloween Exclusives" stock is limited and low, so order soon HERE at Vannen Watches.

Project Jack o' Lantern Architecture Construction Greeting Card

I've mentioned my affinity for Halloween cards before, so here's a quirky new favorite.

Called simply "Project Jack o' Lantern Architecture Construction Card" it really defies words. But here comes about 50 of 'em:

The card almost looks like a secret plan mapped out by an adult, but drawn by a talented child. And I mean that as a compliment.

There's a smiling jack o' lantern, dead center, that looks to have a crayon-colored middle and eyes. A ballsy jack o' lantern choice as it has no nose, but it's tilted grin and single flat tooth make it charming none the less.

From what I can make out from the photos there are notations in simple black type around the colored drawing such as "Elevation," "Free standing, load bearing base," and "Various designs to be vetted for overall jack o' lantern appearance..."
It's as if a nursery school craft project was dissected by a physics professor. The whole card feels very tongue-in-cheek and I'd only send it to those with an elevated sense of importance, or those who enjoy irony.

No, not your mom.

The set of 4 textured cards comes with 4 matte cayenne orange envelopes (I believe "cayenne" to be the "redder" of the "spicy oranges" judging by the other pics on the website). You can get it HERE on Supermarkethq.com.

149 Icons of Horror Poster - Are you up for the challenge?

Well now here's something you don't see every day.

Take a black poster and cram it with 149 icons of horror and fantasy films and call it "149 Icons of Horror" (clever title!).

Mount said poster on a 14" x 36" sheet of black French Muscletone 140 lb paper, hang it on your wall, pull up a chair and say goodbye to your day.

Sure some are easy to identify for a Halloween Addict:  the jack o' lantern holding Headless Horseman, and Jack Skellington as the Pumpkin King, for instance.

REVIEW: Angry Birds Seasons

Those with them-there Smartphones (you know--- SMARTphones... the ones that will rise up and overthrow us...) know of a little addictive time waster called ANGRY BIRDS.
Those who don't know what I'm talking about I'll try and explain (if you want to skip the description you can scan ahead for the word PINEAPPLE).